Brigadier-General Charles William Eric Gordon (April 1878 – 23 July 1917) was a British Army officer. He was killed in action in 1917 whilst commanding the 123rd Brigade.
Charles Gordon | |
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| Born | April 1878 |
| Died | 23 July 1917 (aged 39) St. Eloi, Belgium |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1897–1917 |
| Rank | Brigadier-General |
| Unit | Black Watch |
| Commands | 123rd Brigade |
| Battles / wars | Second Boer War First World War |
| Awards | Mentioned in Despatches (3) Knight Commander of the Order of Prince Danilo I (Montenegro) |
Early life
editThe son of Colonel W. Gordon and Edith Gordon of Wethersfield Place, Braintree, Essex, Charles Gordon was educated Harrow School. He was gazetted a second lieutenant with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in 1897. In 1899 he transferred to the 2nd Battalion.
Military career
editGordon fought through the Second Boer War with the 2nd Battalion, taking part in the advance on Kimberley, the Battle of Paardeberg, and several other engagements.[1] After the war, he went to India with his battalion for ten years, including three years as regimental adjutant.
Promoted to major in 1915,[2] Gordon was severely wounded at the Battle of Loos shortly after. In 1916, he commanded a battalion at the Battle of the Somme. Later that year, he was appointed brigadier-general. On 23 July 1917, Gordon and Captain George Frederick Pragnall, his brigade major, were killed by a German shell in Belgium.